The Nano

I always have an opinion on automobiles. If it’s not made out of passion or engineering ingenuity, I usually shun it as a by-product of modern capitalism. I find myself in a quandary as I cheer for the arrival of the Nano. Is it because I am witnessing the birth of something epochal such as the Volkswagen or the Mini or the 500 or the 2CV? Or maybe it’s the implications that the new car would throw up. To a car-owning city dweller, it should provide a good option for trips to areas short on parking space. To others, a lifestyle, environment friendly option. And to the vast majority, simply a chance to own a modern car.

I think India has finally arrived in the world motoring scene, however it did it with a whimper rather than a bang. Motoring gurus are eating their words as they had snickered at Ratan Tata’s dream. Major players are now scampering to introduce their own UCVs (Ultra low Cost Vehicles, yeah, it created its own new market segment too).

I am just waiting to see how it fares in the market and what kind of export responses it gets. Much would depend on how the Nano connects with the buyers.

Business Lesson: The most simple and robust products or ideas would always be the most profitable and the most remembered.